Norway Spruce
528 Wilson Cres.
The Norway Spruce Picea abies is one of the most widely planted spruces, both in and outside of its native range of Europe. Less common in Saskatoon than other spruces, it is popular in southeastern Canada and in the USA. Widely grown for Christmas trees, it has very unusual secondary branches that hang down like drooping tinsel. It also has cones that are long and pendulous.
The Norway Spruce is used in forestry for timber and paper production. It is the source of spruce beer, which was once used to prevent and even cure scurvy, as it is a good source of vitamin C. Its shoot tips have been used in the traditional Austrian medicine internally (as syrup or tea) and externally (as baths, for inhalation, as ointments, or as resin application) for treatment of various disorders and infections.
The cones are very large. The needles are dark green with white bands underneath, short (1.5 to 2.5cm) and pointed but not sharp. The shoot is orange and like all Spruces each needle is attached to the shoot with a small wooden peg.
Alternate location: 627 Redberry Road